IGNOU's virtual classroom to become 3D-enabled

TNNNov 26, 2007, 12.14am IST

NEW DELHI: The virtual classrooms of IGNOU would soon become 3D-enabled, giving the students the feel of real classroom even while they are taking distance education.

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and CORE Projects and Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard recently. The project, to be part funded by IL&FS, involves expenditure of over Rs 3,000 crore.

Under the project, IGNOU and CORE would set up 1,000 3D enabled learning centres across the country. CORE would also assist IGNOU in creating the hi-tech educational content using space technology, which has been developed by the Centre of Higher Learning (CHL) at NASA Stennis Space Centre. CORE says that it has the exclusive rights for the above technology from CHL for the Asia Pacific region.

According to IGNOU Vice Chancellor Rajsekharan Pillai, "Deployment of this technology in classrooms will greatly enhance the ability of students to understand complicated topics. It will also enable them to conduct innovative experiments leading to cutting edge research and development efforts. The inherent talent and potential in our students will be exploited by the use of such advanced technology."

Improving the quality of education has gained significance in view of a recent study that showed that only 23% of all management graduates are employable. Imparting education in 3D interactive form will help develop specific hard and soft skills required for a job.

This will be the first of its kind centre in the whole of the Asia-pacific region and CORE plans to set up similar centres in other countries of the region.